THE IRISH TERRIER. 45 



tiers in the small towns and villages. I noticed that the majority of such 

 dogs had a few grey or black hairs on their coats, but as a rule they were 

 inclined to be a light red in color and very hard in texture ; the ears are 

 also larger, as a rule, than is fashionable in England, but well carried." 



The question of size, before the present standard was 

 drawn up, seems to have caused many disputes among the 

 different factions. In olden times, certain strains seem to 

 have run up to thirty and thirty-five pounds, but as the pres- 

 ent standard weight has been fixed at twenty-four pounds or 

 under, it is time that more dogs under twenty-four pounds 

 should be produced. The fact that the attention of the 

 judges has been especially directed to the Club standard 

 will probably have a good effect in the direction of lessening 

 size during the coming years. 



In issuing his thirteenth report (1893) of the Irish Terrier 

 Club, Dr. R. B. Carey, J. P., the Honorable Secretary, men- 

 tions that coat seems to him to be the point now requiring 

 most attention, many of the dogs seen during the past year 

 wanting in hardness and density of jacket. As already 

 stated, many of the winning terriers of to-day, were it not 

 for the art of trimming, would have shaggy coats. Light 

 eyes are too often met with. They are very objectionable, 

 besides spoiling the dog's expression ; they ought to be of a 

 dark hazel color, small and keen, not prominent. Expression, 

 besides type and quality, is one of the essential points, and 

 of great importance. The general appearance of the dog 

 should be lively, wiry, and graceful ; the lines of the body 

 should be speedy, without signs of heaviness or anything 

 approaching the cobby and cloddy. 



